Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opens Mettur Dam releasing Cauvery water for irrigation in State
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially opened the Mettur Dam on September 1, 2026, to release water for delta irrigation. The release was delayed by 80 days due to inadequate water levels in the reservoir.
Why it matters
Water management and irrigation schedules are critical for the agricultural economy of Tamil Nadu, directly impacting the livelihoods of farmers in the rice belt.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opened the sluices of Stanley Reservoir in Mettur for delta irrigation on Tuesday (September 1, 2026).
Around 10.15 a.m. on Tuesday, the Chief Minister reached Salem Airport at Kamalapuram. Then, he reached Mettur on road via Thoppur, Mecheri, and Kunjandiyur and released Cauvery water from the dam at 11.30 a.m. and threw flowers on the water that gushed out.
Mr. Vijay also interacted with farmers and received petitions from them. The farmers urged him to open water from the dam for more days instead of the announced 45 days and also sought steps from the government to divert Mettur’s surplus water to water bodies in Thalaivasal.
Mettur Dam: the water source for Tamil Nadu’s rice belt
With Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opening the Mettur dam, focus turns to longevity of water release
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